Sony officially confirms the closure of Concord is permanent, and the 5v5 shooter will not be coming back online. Polygon quotes an internal Sony memorandum. "The PvP first-person shooter genre is a competitive space that’s continuously evolving, and unfortunately, we did not hit our targets with this title," explains CEO Hermen Hulst. "We will take the lessons learned from Concord and continue to advance our live-service capabilities to deliver future growth in this area." There's confirmation that the report is accurate in a farewell message from Firewalk Studios, which reveals that Sony is closing down the game's developer. Here's a bit from them on the experience:

We took some risks along the way – marrying aspects of card battlers and fighting games with first-person-shooters – and although some of these and other aspects of the IP didn’t land as we hoped, the idea of putting new things into the world is critical to pushing the medium forward.

The talent at Firewalk and the level of individual craft is truly world-class, and teams within Sony Interactive Entertainment and across the industry will be fortunate to work with them. Please reach out to Recruiting at PlayStation for inquiries, and thank you to all the very many teams, partners and fans who supported us along the way.

Activision announces the first content drop is already live in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 with the launch of the zombie-infested Infected Mode and word that the latest version of the venerable Nuketown map will arrive on Friday. The Nuketown Launch Trailer is here with an explosive introduction to the map, and here's word on Infected mode:

Infected makes its Black Ops 6 debut just in time for Halloween! With the new Omnimovement system in place, this Party Mode takes on a whole new life… for the living and the undead. Cheat death — or add to the undead ranks — with the most fluid movement mechanics to date.

For new and returning players, an Infected match begins with one player randomly assigned as the starting infected. The infected player’s goal is to eliminate all other players. Each time a survivor is eliminated, they will join the ranks of the undead, while the remaining survivors must keep the horde at bay until the match timer runs out.

Continue here to read the full story.

Square Enix announces Life is Strange: Double Exposure is now officially available for PC and consoles, following a brief Early Access for Deluxe Edition purchasers. The Windows edition of this supernatural adventure sequel is on Steam as a Standard, Ultimate, or Deluxe Edition. Here's the Launch Trailer and here's the strange tale:

LIFE IS STRANGE: DOUBLE EXPOSURE is a direct sequel to the original LIFE IS STRANGE game released in 2015. In the game, players will explore Max Caulfield’s newly evolved power to Shift between two parallel timelines. In addition, the new Pulse ability will allow Max to glimpse the opposite timeline before jumping through and overhear conversations happening on the other side, which is the perfect supernatural tool for an amateur sleuth.

Players can experience both aspects of Max’s new power to solve her friend Safi’s murder. As Max Shifts back and forth between two increasingly different timelines, her power will allow the players to complete unique puzzles, navigate complex campus social dynamics, and explore all the mysteries that Caledon University has to offer.

Continue here to read the full story.

Stellaris: Grand Archive is now available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, launching the latest story pack for Stellaris, the grand strategy game set in space, where no one can hear your running jokes. It's on GOG.com* and on Steam and it is the final release in the Season 08 expansion pass, so make sure not to buy it twice. Here's the grand Release Trailer of the Grand Archive, and here's word:

In the Grand Archive Story Pack, uncover and showcase the rarest treasures across the cosmos—both living and inanimate. Amass an unparalleled collection of xeno-geological artifacts, relics of forgotten civilizations, and untamed space fauna in your Grand Archive, a groundbreaking new megastructure.

Will you become the galaxy’s greatest curator or sell your finds for untold riches?

Harness advanced gravity snare technology to safely capture and study space fauna. Clone these creatures to create fleets of formidable fauna customized through genetic mutations. But tread carefully—two new deadly species, the asteroid-dwelling Cutholoids, and the sinister Voidworms, now roam the galaxy.

*Blue's News may receive a commission on sales of this item. Continue here to read the full story.

• Ubisoft Just Quietly Launched a Full-Blown NFT Game - IGN. We're all okay with just skipping these, right?

• Electronic Arts Reports Strong Q2 FY25 Results - Business Wire.

• EA Earnings- The Sims 4 Manages to Adds 15 Million New Players in 2024 Despite Being More Than 10 Years Old - IGN.
• As Apex Legends engagement declines, EA suggests it’s not planning ‘Version 2’ - VGC.

• DOOM Eternal Slayer Statue – Official Bethesda Gear Store.

Official patches.

• Hearthstone 31.0 Patch Notes.
• Hollowbody - The Restoration Update - New Content - Hollowbody Patch #6.
• Crime Boss: Rockay City Update 12 is OUT NOW! on XBOX SERIES S|X, PS5, STEAM AND EPIC GAMES.

Official trailers.

• Crime Boss: Rockay City Update 12 is OUT NOW.
• Disney Dreamlight Valley - 2024 Showcase.
• The Division 2: Year 6 Season 2 - Shades of Red Official Launch Trailer.
• Flint: Treasure of Oblivion - ESRB Gameplay Sneak Peek.

• The Day Before studio now asking community to design maps for free in newly launched "contest" - Eurogamer.net.

• 13 years after Shadows of the Damned's notoriously difficult development with EA, Suda51 has fully healed from the 'injury' of rewriting the game 6 times: 'I actually have a lot of really fond memories of the experience' - PC Gamer.

• Police Simulator: Patrol Officers- Nintendo Switch Edition - Release Trailer.
• Phasmophobia - Console Launch Trailer.

• Tor Browser version 14.0.1. Thanks Console General.

• TikTok founder Zhang Yiming becomes China's richest man - BBC.
• HWiNFO version 8.14. Thanks Console General.
• clsid2-mpc-hc Release 2.3.7 · GitHub. Thanks Ant.

• ChatGPT creator OpenAI is reportedly earning $80 million a month—and its sales could be edging high enough to plug its $540 million loss from last year - Yahoo! Finance. Thanks j.c.f.

Obituary: Teri Garr Dead: 'Tootsie,' 'Young Frankenstein' Star Was 79 - The Hollywood Reporter.

Rockstar Games announces the Windows edition of Red Dead Redemption is finally available, 14+ years after launching on consoles and almost five years after the sequel arrived on PC. This includes the inevitable zombie DLC and is available on Steam. There's no discount off the USD$49.99 MSRP, but a bundle with the sequel is 10% off. This post discusses PC-specific features and more on how this differs from the original release. Here's the Launch Trailer and more:

This product includes the digital version of Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare for PC.

Featuring the complete single-player experiences of both games, including bonus content from the Game of the Year Edition. Red Dead Redemption does not feature multiplayer content.

Experience the story of former outlaw John Marston as he tracks down the last remaining members of the notorious Van der Linde Gang in the PC debut of the critically acclaimed predecessor to Red Dead Redemption 2.

Continue here to read the full story.

Early Access to Speedball is now live on Steam, kicking off Rebellion's return to the futuristic bloodsport invented in the 1980s by the Bitmap Brothers. This is set in 2038, which is more than twice as close to the present day than 1988 launch of the original game or its even better-received 1990 sequel. The Early Access Launch Trailer introduces this violent sportsball game and its aggressive combatants. Here's word:

A brand new entry into the legendary Bitmap Brothers series! Venture into the grim future of 2138 where mega-corporations use Speedball to distract the downtrodden masses from their miserable lives.

Once an underground sport reviled for its brutality, Speedball has risen to unprecedented heights of popularity and profitability.

It is the only sport that allows two cybernetically augmented teams to go head-to-head at levels of speed and violence beyond human limitations, where any moment could be a player’s last.

Continue here to read the full story.

A new video from Grinding Gear Games announces the grind towards the release of Path of Exile 2 will take three weeks longer than previously expected. Jonathan Rogers, game director on the action/RPG sequel, apologetically reveals the "really bad news" that the launch is now coming on December 6th, explaining the extra time is not actually required for game development, but rather to ensure that none of the existing PoE playerbase gets cheated out of items they have paid for:

Unfortunately, I have some really bad news. We have to delay early access for three weeks. The new date is the December 6. I’m really sorry about this one. People plan time off and things like that around our launches, but we just have to do it. So what happened? Well, it turns out it isn't really the game itself that we're behind on. It's a bunch of server side infrastructure work that has taken us a lot longer than we expected.

Now, one of the key promises we made is that all your microtransactions will work across both PoE 1 and 2. In order to do that, we have to integrate the account systems for not only PoE 2 and 2, but also for the console realms as well. This meant changing a lot of things. Not only do we have to create a bunch of new systems, we have to make sure that only old data is backwards compatible with them as well. And when you start migrating databases that are this old and with this much data, you find all sorts of strange demons in there. How do multiple accounts get the same name? How do multiple accounts get the same email address? How do multiple accounts have the same steam IDs? Why is this person’s account name just random gibberish that doesn't even decode?

Continue here to read the full story.

Japan Fishing Reserve is now available on Steam, add a new locale to Call of the Wild: The Angler, the Windows sport fishing simulation. Also available for consoles, the DLC adds new story missions and fish to catch along with the setting. There's co-op support, and this can be played as long as one player in the party owns a copy. Here's a Release Trailer looking to hook new players, and here's word on the DLC and an accompanying update to the base game:

Welcome to Kamuibetsu National Park! In this sprawling ecosystem full of gorgeous autumnal lakes, forests, springs, rivers, and even a volcano, you’ll search for the perfect fishing spots while taking on new angler challenges, tracking down hidden caches and collectibles, and capturing Hokkaido’s most majestic vistas on camera in the new photo mission. Japan Reserve owners can even invite friends who own the base game to experience the new DLC together in co-op for free!

But that’s not all! A free update released for all players last week introduced new variations for a variety of fish species, including the Burbot, Wels Catfish, and Kokanee Salmon, featuring different colorings, scars, and more. In addition, Call of the Wild: The Angler’s Halloween event is now live through November 8! Players can check out the suddenly spooky Golden Ridge Reserve for a new themed mini-game and a range of seasonal cosmetics.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Monster High Skulltimate Secrets on Steam (Windows). "Save Monster High and join the Boo Crew by creating your authentic monster self in this spooktacular mystery adventure!" Here's the Launch Trailer.

• -80% Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space on GOG.com.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 developers strike over office working policy - Eurogamer.net.
• SAG-AFTRA signs agreement with AI-powered voice company Ethovox - Game Developer.

• Capcom has sold more units on PC in the first half of FY25 than on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox combined - DSOGaming.

Official patches.

• Armored Warfare - The Shockwave Update is now available.
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - Title Update 1.11.
• DAVE THE DIVER - 10-28 (Mon) Hotfix.
• Gearbox has removed Denuvo from Homeworld 3 - DSOGaming.
• Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 - Year 6 Season 2- Shades of Red.
• World of Warcraft Hotfixes: October 28, 2024.

• Save 25% on Muscle Ninja VR on Steam. There's a playable demo and here's a Launch Trailer.

Official trailers.

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - The Replacer "Snack Analyst."
• Metal Slug Tactics - Ikari Warriors Gameplay Preview.
• FAIRY TAIL 2 - Opening Movie.

• CarlJr Claims His Sixth World Championship Title at Paris Games Week 2024 - Trackmania. Thanks Frans.

• World of Warcraft — The Mythic Dungeon International returns November 1.

• Way Of The Hunter - Wild Expeditions Announcement Trailer.
• Xenoblade Chronicles X- Definitive Edition Brings an Expansive Sci-Fi Adventure to Nintendo Switch on March 20 - Business Wire.
• Sonic X Shadow Generations Review (Switch) - Nintendo Life. Thanks Neutronbeam.

• EVE Galaxy Conquest launches.

Thanks Frans.

• How the Trump and Harris Campaigns Are Chasing the Gamer Vote - TIME.
• Turmoil continues to swirl around Verizon-Frontier deal - Light Reading. Thanks DSLReports via Ant.
• Mozilla Firefox 132.0, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes.
• Mozilla Firefox ESR 128.4.0, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes.
• Mozilla Firefox ESR 115.17.0, See All New Features, Updates and Fixes.
• Mozilla Thunderbird Version 132.0 Release Notes.
• Mozilla Thunderbird Version 128.4.0esr Release Notes.

Thanks Max.

• DLSS 3 Accelerates Performance In Dragon Age- The Veilguard, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and Red Dead Redemption This Week - NVIDIA.
• A single thin film perfectly absorbs all electromagnetic waves - EurekAlert. Next-gen tinfoil hats to be much more comfortable.
• China tightens export controls on rare earth metals used for chipmaking — Tom's Hardware.
• A Running List of the Tech CEOs Donald Trump Claims Are Calling Him to Suck Up - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Apple Intelligence Isn't Driving iPhone 16 Sales the Way Apple Hoped, Analyst Says - Gizmodo. Same hype, different train. Maybe if it was 3D? No wait! Something something metaverse!
• AI Slop Is Flooding Medium - WIRED (may require registration or subscription).

• Horror Video Games for Halloween Week- Mouthwashing, Until Dawn and More - The New York Times. Thanks Neutronbeam.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 245K Processor Review - Team Blue Has Seen Better Days - TweakTown.
• CPU/GPU/AIO/SSD Cooler: iBuyPower AW4 AIO Review- Thermal domination on a budget - Tom's Hardware.
• Headset/Earbuds: Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Headset Gen 3 Review - Big Sound, Innovative CrossPlay Feature - TweakTown.
• Keyboard: Glorious GMMK 3 Pro HE Wireless Keyboard Review - TechPowerUp.
• Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 APEX motherboard - Guru3D.
• Motherboard: Biostar X870E Valkyrie Motherboard - Wccftech.
• Sound Card/DAC: TOPPING D90 III Discrete DAC + A90 Discrete Amplifier Review - TechPowerUp.
• SSD: Crucial P310 1TB PCIe M.2 2230 SSD - OCinside (German).
• SSD: Samsung 990 Evo Plus Solid State Drive Review - ThinkComputers.org.
• SSD: Samsung 990 EVO Plus SSD review- The real EVO drive is here - Tom's Hardware.

I had a fun experience yesterday, and just in time for Halloween, it was also a bit eerie. A noise at the front door turned out to be an adorable little doggo who had come a-knocking. Opening the door did not startle him, and it was obvious he already considered us close friends. It turns out he wasn't a neighbor's, he had makeshift super-leash leading to the end of our block where there is some work going on. The contractor told me his little buddy is around a year-and-a-half old, but is already mature enough to take along on jobs like this. But as I said, this was a little spooky for me. This pooch is almost the spitting image of my dear departed buddy Jedi the Jindo. He's only about half Jedi's size, and his ears are a bit pointier, but his face, coloring, curly tail, lean physique, and more are all identical, so the resemblance was striking. Now to be fair, both dogs came from the Spitz family, so there's an obvious explanation for this. But looking him in the eyes was so familiar it was difficult to shake the uncanniness. Combine that with how he singled me out for a visit and acted like we were already besties only added to the slightly supernatural feel of it all. Oh, and did I mention that Jedi's passing was 19 months ago, right around the time of this little guy's birth? I'm not planning on holding any séances, or anything, but the whole encounter was more than a little spooky.

Reincarnated Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Stories

• Appalachian Trail, slammed by Hurricane Helene, faces months of repairs - The Washington Post.
• ‘Grate Cheese Robbery’ Scams Company Out of 22 Tons of Cheddar - The New York Times. Police trying to get Gromit to testify against Wallace.
• Lost Mayan city found in Mexico jungle by accident - BBC. People get lost, not cities.

Science

• Scientists make incredible breakthrough to address 'critical' metal shortages- 'A pivotal advancement' - Yahoo! Tech.
• How bubble curtains protect porpoises from wind farm noise - BBC.
• Beneath the Ice: Titan’s Six-Mile-Deep Methane Crust Could Rewrite Planetary Science - SciTechDaily.
• High school students who came up with 'impossible' proof of Pythagorean theorem discover 9 more solutions to the problem - LiveScience. Thanks Matthew.

Image

• Miami Heat unveil D-Wade's statue outside Kaseya Center. Wow! Glad I'm not a fan.

Media

• Cops Bust Elaborate Fuel Stealing Scam. Thanks The Flying Penguin.

Creature Features

• Boy's Rubik's Cube Fascinates Monkey. Hopefully the boy's handlers gave him a treat. Thanks VideoSift.